Review: DEAR EVAN HANSEN Spins a Telling and Cautionary Tale for a Digital Age

Dear Evan Hansen, today's going to be a good day and here's why... That's how the juggernaut of a little show that could, opens. Nearly 427,000 hashtags later, DEAR EVAN HANSEN is not only a phenomenon but literally part of America's cultural heritage. Artifacts from the show, still running on Broadway, were accepted into The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History collection last fall, a decision which Curator Ryan Lintelman says was a no-brainer. "It has this freshness to it that helps people to connect to these issues of social media and the internet, of depression and anxiety, and how you present yourself in a world that's increasingly digital," he said.

DEAR EVAN HANSEN tells the story of Evan, an awkward, self-conscious, and lonely teen. He is encouraged by a doctor to write affirmation letters to himself, one of which is intercepted by an outcast named Connor in the school's computer lab. After Connor commits suicide, Connor's mother finds Evan's letter. Evan then finds himself entangled in a lie that was never meant to be told, living a life he had only imagined. DEAR EVAN HANSEN opened on Broadway in 2016 and won six 2017 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

And rightfully so. This is the right show for right now, a commentary on a media age that connects us virtually, but so often, imprisons and cripples us socially.

The small ensemble is led by Ben Levi Ross, as Evan Hansen. Ross made his Broadway debut in the show and makes Evan his own, shaping the character into a kid that is both callow and disingenuous. Having seen the original Broadway cast, led by the Tony Award-winning Ben Platt, Ross' Evan is a bit shiftier than Platt's Evan was. That's not to say that Ross' portrayal is wrong. He's just eyeing Evan through a bit of a different lens, one which probably paints a more realistic picture of the troubled teen. On the other hand, Platt brought an unparalleled physicality and emotional rawness to the role, which the more detached Ross lacks. Ross' melodious delivery of some of the songs is almost too perfect. For example, his rendition of the climactic song "Words Fail," is pitch-perfect and beautiful, but lacks the angst and disquietude of Platt's delivery.

That's not to say Ross doesn't give a heart-wrenching performance that will leave you sobbing and even breathless at times. So do Jessica Phillips, who plays Evan's mother Heidi, and Maggie McKenna, who plays Connor's grieving sister and Evan's love interest, Zoe. Both Phillips and McKenna sing some of the more lyrical and beautiful songs of the production, including Heidi's tearful solo 'So Big/So Small' and Zoe's 'Requiem,' which is flawless. Also notable is Elon grad Jared Goldsmith's portrayal of Evan's 'family friend' Jared Kleinman. He serves as Evan's accomplice and the show's comic relief. His spot-on performance is truly believable. We've all known someone like Jared Kleinman at some point.

If you're not one of the nearly nine million people who has streamed the show's music on YouTube, the musical score by the Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award-winning team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul ('La La Land' and 'The Greatest Showman') is infused with syncopated, rock, and harmonious songs, all of which seem to resonate and belong to the 'fansens' who donned their blue polos and Connor hoodies on opening night. This is a show that speaks directly to them and every parent out there who wishes their child came with some sort of "roadmap" or instruction manual.

The takeaway from DEAR EVAN HANSEN is that every single one of us wants to be found, wants to be heard, and wants to connect with others not necessarily virtually but IRL, a telling reminder for a digital age.

DEAR EVAN HANSEN runs through Sunday, March 17th at the Durham Performing Arts Center. A limited number of tickets will be made available daily via an online digital lottery. For more information visit https://www.dpacnc.com/events/detail/dear-evan-hansen.

Photo by Matthew Murphy.

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